Benefits » Awards » Hire-On Incentive
The Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is authorized to provide a one-time, non-base building, hire-on incentive to potential exempt external hires meeting the eligibility requirements below. Hire-on incentives are not included in base payroll for the computation of benefits. Hire-on incentives must be reported as taxable income and applicable taxes will be withheld at the time of payment.
The use of a hire-on incentive is limited to external candidates for Laboratory regular exempt positions. The candidates must possess critical knowledge, experience, and/or skills in areas that are extremely competitive because of high demands and short labor supply, regionally and/or nationally. Potential candidates are not eligible for a hire-on incentive if they are currently employed by LANS parent companies (Bechtel, BWXT, Washington Group, and the University of California); have left LANS parent company employment under a special incentive program; or have retired from LANS parent companies.
Referral incentives may be offered for regular or limited term positions that require critical, highly competitive skill, knowledge, and experience. Hiring officials may choose not to offer this incentive.
Part-time, student, Post Doctoral, and casual positions are not eligible for this incentive.
Hire-on incentives are to be used in exceptional cases for external candidates only where:
In order to meet the criteria for a Hire-On Incentive, the applicant must possess critical knowledge, experience, and/or skill essential to the success of LANL programs AND there must be documented difficulty recruiting applicants with this background, AND there must be a documentable reason to believe that the applicant will not accept the offer without this incentive.
Managers should consult with their HR Generalist as early in the process as possible to help determine if the position and candidate meet the above criteria. The manager (or HR Generalist) must then complete the Justification for Hire-on Incentive - Form 1748 (pdf) and obtain signature approval from the cognizant Division Director and Deputy Laboratory Director or Associate Laboratory Director or their designee. Upon approval, the HR Generalist will send the applicant an offer letter that includes the terms and conditions applicable to these hire-on incentive guidelines.
Written justification for a hire-on incentive must be documented on a Justification for Hire-On Incentive - Form 1748 (pdf). This memo must address the criteria above and include relevant data where available such as:
A competitive offer for employment from another company is an example of a documentable reason to believe that the applicant will not accept the offer without this incentive.
If the employee voluntarily terminates before the end of one year, the employee must pay back the full hire-on incentive amount. This provision must be included in the offer letter and agreed to by the applicant.
Funding must come from the organization extending the offer. There are no “special funds” to pay for this program.
Hire-on incentives are subject to applicable taxes. The hiring official will determine which payment option to use (see below).
Option 1: A single, lump sum paid within 30 days of the date of hire.
Option 2: Half of the incentive amount paid within 30 days of the employee’s date of hire, and the remaining half 6 months after the employee’s date of hire.
| Base Salary | Percent of Salary /Gross Incentive |
|---|---|
| Up to $75,000 | Up to 15% of base or $10,000 – whichever is less* |
| $75,001 to $99,999 | Up to 20% of base or $20,000 – whichever is less |
| $100,000 and above | Up to 20% of base or $25,000 – whichever is less |
* Exceptions to the gross incentive amounts may be authorized only by the ALD/DLD but may not exceed 20% of the base salary.